This is the text of the prime minister’s address:
Thank you for meeting with us today at this, our largest and most
representative stakeholder summit. The aim of this summit is to create
space for open and honest dialogue between government and the people
we represent and to whom we are responsible.
As your government, we are here to listen to you – to listen to the
issues and problems you face and to work with you to identify
sustainable solutions so that we can work together to rebuild our
country.
This is one is a series of summits where we are engaging with key
stakeholders on a variety of issues. We are pleased that we have
already hosted summits on Health, Water and Tourism and that we have
summits scheduled on the Media, Education and Science and Technology.
This government does not view these summits as an end in themselves,
but rather as a means through which we will develop a comprehensive
work plan for each Ministry, with defined deliverables to which the
Ministers and your government can be held accountable.
This work plan will be the primary product of our ministerial retreat
which we will be holding next week and whose other objectives are to
reinforce the growing sense of team work within this inclusive
government; to understand the problems and issues our nation faces; and
get agreement on the solutions to enable us to develop a detailed
action plan to implement these solutions.
I would encourage each of the sectors represented here today, to
develop your own work plans to compliment our efforts, for the
challenges that face us as a nation are not ones which your Government
can tackle on its own.
Your government is committed to ensuring that this consultative process
continues for the life of this administration so that the policies
developed and implemented are targeted specifically to the needs and
aspirations of our people.
I would also like to acknowledge and express my appreciation for the
past and continued role of the international community, in both
addressing the humanitarian crisis facing our nation and in supporting
our economic and political efforts to rebuild our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as Prime Minister, I am responsible for
overseeing the formulation of government policy by cabinet and the
implementation of said policy by the entirety of Government and I am
encouraged by the overwhelming turnout we have here today and that we
have had at our previous summits.
At the tourism summit which concluded yesterday, the organisers had
planned for 100 participants and over 500 turned up. This overwhelming
enthusiasm has been the hallmark of the efforts made by this new
government to date, and was particularly noticeable in the way that
our Short Term Economic Recovery Programme was received by the business
community.
It is envisaged that through this consultative process a social
contract between Government, labour, civil society and business will be
developed which in turn will result in the creation of the National
Economic Council as detailed in the Global Political Agreement.
It is the Global Political Agreement that guides us in this process.
For in that agreement the political parties made firm, definable and
irreversible commitments to address the economic, social and political
ills that plague our nation.
In agreeing to this negotiated settlement to our country's problems,
your political leaders had to make painful compromises for the sake of
the people. It is now important that those compromises serve as an
investment in our united future and that we see an end to the previous
political culture of insults and threats.
In order to bridge the gap between the divisive politics of old and a
new, inclusive future, Zanu PF and the MDC need to transform from
former ruling and opposition parties respectively, to inclusive
governing parties who put the best interests of our nation first.
As leaders, it is essential that we set this example for our people to
follow because the GPA binds us to both political and economic
objectives, recognising that without political stability there can be
no economic growth.
We must acknowledge that we are initiating our programme of economic
development from a negative starting point and as such it is important
that we manage expectations of what we will be able to achieve and when
we will be able to achieve it.
While it is commendable that the government is committed to paying
allowances to all civil servants, such is the state of our economy that
we must recognise that it will be some time before we are able to
define and pay sustainable salaries.
We need your assistance in informing the people about the steps we are
taking to address their concerns and to assure them that we are doing
everything in our power to move our development agenda forward as fast
as possible.
However, there are many things that we can do to advance this agenda
that cost no money. To enforce the rule of law is free; to work with
former opponents for the betterment of our country is free; to pass
reforming legislation to promote investor confidence is free. Thus our
development agenda must not be held hostage by our significant fiscal
restraints. Indeed, implementing these steps that cost nothing will
pave the way for our economic growth.
Of particular importance is restoring the rule of law, without which we
will not make progress on any front. I have tasked the Ministers of
Home Affairs to ensure that all crimes are acted upon and the
perpetrators arrested and charged. For too long a culture of
entitlement and impunity has stained our society, but after the signing
of the GPA no crime will go unpunished.
Indeed, this government is aware that most of the ongoing disruptions
of agricultural production, which are being done in the name of the
land reform process, are actually acts of theft using fraudulent offer
letters. Those continuing to undertake these activities will be
arrested and face justice in the courts.
Ladies and Gentlemen, while the task ahead of us all is immense, it is
one that we can achieve through open and honest dialogue and
cooperation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we all have a role to play in ensuring that the
benchmarks contained in the Global Political Agreement, particularly in
relation to economic development and democratisation, are implemented
and adhered to.
In this regard, today's summit is of particularly importance as
represented here are all the sectors whose work, cooperation and
vigilance are essential to the success of the political agreement. For
there can be no economic growth without the rule of law, and without
economic growth this government will not be able to fully address the
humanitarian crisis our country faces.
Therefore, although you represent different sectors, together with us
your government, you also represent the whole that is Zimbabwe. By
working together today, we will provide the example that cooperation,
irrespective of political or sectoral goals, is not only possible but
essential if we are to move forward and develop our nation.
This spirit of cooperation has already seen results. To name but a few,
our hospitals and schools have started functioning, basic commodities
are more available at lower prices and the spectre of hyper inflation
has been eradicated.
Thus we know that we can achieve what the people demand and deserve and
those that embrace this new vision of governance, as outlined in the
GPA, have nothing to fear from it. The international community has
already pledged to match our progress with greater financial and
technical support, and with a review of restrictive measures against
individuals tied to the progress we make on restoring the rule of law.
In this I am encouraged by the favourable reports I have received from
both Zimbabweans and members of the international community. We have a
long way to go but there is now tangible evidence that we have started
the journey, that we are working together and that we are prepared to
put the needs and interests of our great country first.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is thus with great hope, expectation and
belief in the people of Zimbabwe, in our leaders in all sectors and in
the commitment of our international brothers and sisters that I declare
this stakeholder summit officially open.
I thank you.
Post published in: News